Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has introduced reservation for appointment of higher secondary school teachers by redesignation of teachers in the lower classes. Under existing rules, 25 per cent of the total vacancies of higher secondary teachers should be filled through designation change and the latest order says that reservation could be applied to these postings.

The quota suggested for redesignation is as follows: 70 per cent for eligible high-school teachers; 20 per cent for lower-primary and upper-primary teachers and five per cent each for ministerial staff and lab assistants working in the higher-secondary section.

The rule says that even though 25 per cent of the higher secondary teacher vacancies should be filled from among high school teachers, candidates could be selected from primary teachers in the subject if sufficient candidates are unavailable.

Meanwhile, under the latest order, the vacancies of higher-secondary teachers to be filled by redesignation will be considered as units of 20 to make appointments. Of these 20 vacancies, 14 has been reserved for high-school teachers, four for primary teachers and one each for lab assistant and ministerial staff.

The latest order is effective from January 1, 2016. However, the authorities said that it will not affect appointments already done under redesignation.